Sep 10, 2024

Organic industry celebrates Organic Month

The organic industry is marking September as Organic Month.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is showcasing organic operations and products in its celebration of Organic Month.

In its encompassing month-long campaign, OTA will share the stories of its organic champion members, highlight the benefits of choosing organic and raise awareness about organic agriculture.

The trade association is kicking off a social media campaign to highlight the innovative programs and practices underway by its members to increase organic production and boost the availability of organic to consumers.

“Organic month is a fantastic opportunity to promote the benefits and importance of organic farming and products, and to celebrate our commitment and dedication to organic,” Matthew Dillon, OTA Co-CEO, said in a news release. “We have a host of activities and outreach planned for our members and for any consumer who wants to support a movement that prioritizes health, environmental sustainability and ethical practices.”

The association plans to publish newsletters throughout the month featuring organic initiatives and developments, and is making available to the public its deep library of organic resources, educational guides and promotional toolkits.

“Our campaign encourages consumers to support organic products by highlighting their benefits for personal health, eco-friendly agriculture, and animal welfare,” Tom Chapman, OTA Co-CEO, said in the release. “We want to inspire more people to choose organic, and in doing so, join our efforts to expand organic agriculture and organic production, and to make healthy, clean organic food accessible to all.”

The U.S. organic market is now a nearly $70 billion market, posting a new record in dollar sales in 2023, according to OTA’s 2024 Organic Industry Survey.

Organic sales have doubled over the past ten years, and organic food now accounts for six percent of the nation’s total retail food sales.

The organic seal has stayed a stand-out with consumers, reflecting a growing consumer focus on personal and family health, sustainability, and a desire for clean products free from antibiotics, hormones, preservatives and dyes.

For more information on OTA’s activities during Organic Month, visit here.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association for North America organic agriculture and products. OTA is a leading voice for the U.S. organic trade, representing more than 500 organic businesses across 50 states and 9,500 farmers through its Farmers Advisory Council.

OTA’s mission is to promote and protect organic with a unifying voice that serves and engages a diverse membership base from farm to marketplace. OTA’s members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s board of directors is elected by its members.